• The use of Article 49.3 of the Constitution by the government to push through the pension reform is creating a stir among deputies and deputies walking.

  • The Macronist group, which currently has 297 members, is “dangerously” approaching an absolute majority (289), with several departures which will undoubtedly not be the last.

  • In the left wing, there are questions about a split, but the leadership of the LREM group in the National Assembly seems serene.

If we stick only to the figures, the week is exceptional for the group La République en Marche (LREM) at the National Assembly: three departures in four days.

Since the beginning of the year, the group of Macronist deputies lost “only” one unit per week on average.

These three new departures – not counting that of a senator – are, of course, linked to the use of article 49.3 by the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, to pass, without going to the end of the parliamentary debate and without a vote , the ordinary pension reform law.

This "forced passage" of the government is criticized by some of the members of the majority.

Some had already signed a forum at the end of February, criticizing 49.3 in advance.

This Wednesday, five "left wing" deputies voted with the Socialists and the left in favor of a commission of inquiry into the sincerity of the government's impact study, according to

Liberation.

on the pension reform, widely criticized for its shortcomings by the Council of State, the highest court in the country.

Without success however.

Orange and red lights

It cracks, in any case it cracks, therefore, in the middle of the mass of nearly 297 Macronist deputies (the majority is 289).

Is 49.3 a break in the legislature?

A LREM MP, close to the left wing, is not sure: “Certainly, that crystallizes the difficulties that we may have had.

But it's been a while that there are a lot of signals that are orange in the group.

»

The lights are almost red for the deputy of Gard Annie Chapelier.

She has already left the party but remains related to the macronist group.

She plans to leave soon.

“It's an idea that is gaining ground, it's a matter of time.

It's not an easy decision to make.

But, at some point, it's obvious: a series of events make you say that there is no alternative.

The indictment is severe: “The party cadres do not take us seriously.

They are so sure of themselves.

They live completely remote from reality, in an unreal world.

»

Arlesian

Thanks to this heavy context, the hypothesis of the formation of a new parliamentary group, composed of “left macronists”, resurfaces.

Some of them are looking for a way to be "neither boots nor slingers", as explained at the beginning of the week on LCI the deputy of Vaucluse Jean-François Cesarini, of the collective of social democrats of LREM formed in June 2019.

This group of "left-wing macronists" has been an Arlesian since Emmanuel Macron's famous "left leg" went missing, almost since the start of his term.

“It will happen one day or another, judge Annie Chapelier.

I'm a nurse and a quiet hemorrhage ends up creating anemia.

There will be no return for those who leave.

»

Reflection

Another MP confirms the "rumors of the corridors" around the creation of this new parliamentary group.

Although close to the left wing, she nevertheless wonders: “What guides me is loyalty to the President of the Republic, I will do nothing to harm him.

But it is obviously that we have to recover an electorate which is in the process of leaving us because it does not find it there.

Is splitting up the right solution?

I am in reflection.

»

François-Michel Lambert, ex-LREM ecologist deputy, finished his reflection a long time ago.

The deputy of Bouches-du-Rhône is one of the first to have taken the tangent, from 2018. According to him, "about fifty deputies are very disturbed" by the use of 49.3 "Only a dozen are heard but we saw during the standing ovation to Edouard Philippe this Tuesday that people remained seated.

»

Loyalty to the President of the Republic

“This group, it will be done.

Thirty will be, ”continues the former green, perhaps a little optimistic.

"It is with the return of Cédric Villani [after the municipal campaign, editor's note] that things will be done", he believes he knows.

François-Michel Lambert wants to be part of it, but only if this group "cuts ties with Emmanuel Macron", which seems unlikely as loyalty to the President of the Republic seems the main but solid cement of LREM.

As for the group's executives, it's not exactly “everything is going very well, Madame la marquise”, but we put things into perspective a lot.

Valérie Gomez-Bassac, spokesperson for the macronist group, does not perceive “honestly no discomfort.

There have been a few departures but I don't really see any opposition in the group.

“Catherine Osson, LREM deputy from the North, regrets the attitude of parliamentarians “who pretend to see that we could not avoid 49.3, because of the obstruction”.

Good riddance ?

“It is always the same ten that we hear, continues the former socialist from the North.

They take up more space than they actually represent.

We cannot say that there is not a space for discussion in the group.

Myself, I happen to be in the minority, I accept it.

Being on the left also means playing collectively”, continues the one who feels “in her place” at LREM.

Catherine Osson finds that around the pension reform, “something happened in the group, the ties have tightened”.

Valérie Gomez-Bassac shares this idea, which makes her very serene about the prospect of a split: “I'm not afraid.

Even if a group leaves us, we have friendly parties who are in the same dynamic and with the same program.

“And it is true that, even if 30 Macronist deputies were to leave, with the MoDem (46 elected men and women) and the regular support of Agir (28), LREM has something to see ahead before losing absolute majority in the National Assembly.

For three years, the threat of departure from the most left-wing parliamentarians of the majority has sounded a bit like "Keep me where I am causing a misfortune".

Often restless, never materialized.

And without effect either on the line of the government.

If it was finally to be carried out, not sure that the management would retain the protesters for very long.

“It might not be so bad,” even dares Catherine Osson.

Policy

VIDEO.

Pension reform: Two deputies leave the LREM group because of 49.3

Despite 49.3, the executive is not done with pension reform

  • 49-3

  • The Republic on the March (LREM)

  • National Assembly

  • Majority